Microfiction
The Corner Store at the End of the Hill. AI-Generated.
Hyun pressed his back against the small retaining wall, noticing how the late afternoon sun cast an elongated shadow across the asphalt. Just beyond his outstretched legs stood the corner store—an unremarkable building unless you were from this neighborhood. Its bright orange sign, emblazoned with the words “미니스토아,” caught the light of the descending sun. Beneath that, in faintly chipped numerals, was a telephone number no one called anymore. The sign’s edges had begun to curl and fade, like an old photograph left too long in the sun.
By Alpha Cortex2 years ago in Fiction
Shadows on a Rain-Soaked Path
The alley was unassuming at first glance. Narrow and cramped, its walls bore the marks of time and the echoes of untold stories. Overhead wires tangled in chaotic lines, bridging one building to the next. Everything was cast in a quiet shade of grey, as though the entire place existed in a dreamlike monochrome. In the dim light of early evening, the street looked almost deserted, but a subtle hum of life persisted just beneath the surface. A lone motorbike leaned against a faded shutter, its metal parts reflecting the sparse glimmers of what little daylight remained. The alley’s stillness called out to passersby—an invitation for the curious or the lost. From the moment the traveler stepped inside, it felt like entering another world.
By Alpha Cortex2 years ago in Fiction
The Keeper
The man hesitated, teetering on the brink of the crevasse. Hardly a foot of space lay between the wall and the drop-off, and the abyss loomed stark before him. Could he make the leap? Was it even possible? If he could not – if he fell to his death below – he condemned everyone above to an icy demise. He was the only adult left who knew how to do what needed to be done. The plague had taken many lives over the last year, and the only other Keeper who remained was but a child. Yet the ancient knowledge had been passed down from one Keeper to the next in preparation for this moment, and it was his duty to do what must be done. It wasn’t the first time. It wouldn’t be the last. But perhaps, it would be the last for him.
By Laura Pruett2 years ago in Fiction
Peace in the Moment
"Come 'ere stud." Elenor took him by the hand and yanked him over. She didn't care what occurred around he. One of their children for some odd reason, had a turkey in the toilet. She'd deal with it later. All that mattered was her husband. As his wife, it was rare for them to have moments alone. It was either work, housework, or the kids driving her nuts. She was beyond frustrated at the lack of time with Pete. Closing in, she wrapped her arms around him. Their lips met with an electric sparking coarsing through her. Yes, she needed this more than anything.
By Crystal Neal2 years ago in Fiction
Control is an Illusion
The princess had all she ever wanted right within her grasp. Power, control - a crown. It pulsated a supernatural force against her skin, like the crashing of a wave against a rocky shore, or the anxious thrumming of an unsteady heartbeat. It was a thing of metal and blood to be placed over her eyes, as was custom, to ensure her divine right to rule was preserved forevermore.
By Amanda Starks2 years ago in Fiction
The Hollow Trunk
Step out of the shadows.----Michelle Liew ********************************************** Villagers often came by the hollow tree. The wind blew through its wiry branches every night, whispering names of lost souls. No one dared to go near it---except Mia.
By Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin2 years ago in Fiction
Mountain Nostalgia
After reading about this Scandinavian concept of hygge, I could only think of mountains. I have always liked them (despite having had a childhood surrounded by buildings rather than beautiful peaks). I always felt this Heimweh for the mountains combined with a Wanderlust that did not last long: I would explore my surroundings with my bike as a teen, and then go as far as my legs would let me (to the Rockies, to the Andes, to the Pyrenees).
By Laura Rodben2 years ago in Fiction
